Osama bin Ladens son-in-law pleaded not guilty Friday to plotting against Americans in his role as al-Qaedas top spokesman as a landmark case trying a terror suspect on US soil moves toward trial next month.
Sulaiman Abu Ghaith entered the plea through a lawyer to one count of conspiracy to kill Americans after being arrested in Jordan on February 28.
Abu Ghaith gave an extensive post-arrest statement that totalled 22 pages and arrived in the US on March 1. The prosecutor gave no details on the statement.
Bail was not requested,and none was set. The judge said he would set a trial date April 8. Prosecutors said a trial would last three weeks.
The case marks a legal victory for the Obama administration,which has long sought to charge senior al-Qaeda suspects in US federal courts.